Take a Ride on a Heritage Blackpool Tram

With Blackpool Heritage Tram Tours you can enjoy an experience like no other, as you take a ride along the world famous Blackpool Tramway aboard a piece of moving history along the fantastic seafront of this world famous seaside resort.

Up until 2011, the “Heritage” cars were the service fleet trams. Operating every day except Christmas Day, they travelled along the tram lines, carrying residents and visitors from A to B. A multi-million pound upgrade transformed Blackpool's tramway - the tracks were all relaid and a new, modern fleet of low-floor trams are now the service fleet.

However, the original Blackpool trams - with their distinctive 'clickety-clack' as they drive along - are much loved and as integral to Blackpool as fish and chips and the donkeys on the beach - so a core selection of trams from the original system were kept and returned to passenger carrying duties once more.

Many of these original trams are over 80 years old and have been retained and superbly restored. It's a unique experience as nowhere else in the UK can you still ride on a Heritage Tram on the line for which it was originally built.

Blackpool Heritage Trams run most weekends throughout the year, daily during most UK school holidays and, of course, operate our famous Autumn Illumination Tours where you can ride aboard one of the illuminated trams.

Heritage Tram Tours FAQs and Helpful Hints!

• Can we pre-book tours? - Generally No, just turn up and pay the conductor on board The only pre-bookable tours are Great British Night Out, Guided Tours and Ghost Tours

• Do you operate every day? - Promenade Tours operate most weekends & school holidays Illumination Tours operate every evening during the Illuminations except Switch On night Illumination Tours start from Switch-On time until 9pm Sun-Thurs & until 10pm Fri/Sat

• Do you operate tours on Switch On night - No, we start on Saturday 2nd September This is because the Tramway is closed at Tower Headland for The Switch On event

• What time is best to catch an Illumination Tour? - The first tours are always busiest and then get quieter during the evening, an hour after switch on time is best for a shorter wait! Friday/Saturday are busiest! Tours take just over an hour and operate around every 20 minutes.

• Where do we catch an Illuminations Tour? - ONLY from Pleasure Beach Heritage Stop you can alight an Illuminations tour at other Heritage Tram Stops on the return journey

• Are all trams illuminated? - We use a mix of Illuminated and Heritage trams You get a great view of the Illuminations from the Top deck of our Double Deckers!

• Can I get off and rejoin a tour (split tour)? - Daytime tours-Yes, Illumination tours-No

• Are Blackpool Transport Saver/Day/24/One tickets valid on Heritage Tram Tours - No Heritage Day Tickets are available which also include modern tram and bus services

• Can we buy Heritage Day Tickets on all trams and buses - Yes, Heritage Day Tickets can be bought on any Blackpool Transport bus or tram service, remember and ask for HERITAGE! Heritage Day Tickets: Adult £11, Child £6, Family £25 - includes all tours/buses/trams

• Can we buy Heritage Tram Tickets online or on the Blackpool Transport App - No

• Can we pay by Debit/Credit Card – No, we only accept £cash on our tours

• Are concession passes accepted on Heritage Trams - No, these are not valid for tours

• Are Heritage Day Tickets valid for 24 hours - No, only valid on the day of purchase

• Can I hire a Heritage Tram - Yes, call Emma on 01253 209521 for more details!

FUNDRAISING APPEALS

All of the heritage Tramcars, are, by definition, old! They need tender loving care, maintenance, and in many cases restoration.

Many of them have been moved to different places, different collections, and different owners - so there are opportunities to bring some of them back home, restore them and, one by one, add them to the operational fleet.

Blackpool Heritage Trust have been fundraising for the restoration of two exciting additions to the fleet. They can't do it without your help so a BIG thank you goes to everyone who has supported these two appeals:

Paisley & District tramcar no.16 of 1904 (later Glasgow 1016)

Our 'phase one' project is to restore the 4-wheel truck from this tramcar to create a rolling chassis onto which we can then rebuild the body.

To complete this we need four brand new steel tyres, at a cost of £500 each. Many thanks to everyone who has contributed to the cost.

Once we have the foundations of the tram in place, work can then progress towards rebuilding the body and recreating the missing components that will allow Paisley 16 to take its place on Blackpool's Promenade within a reasonable timescale.

This is a dash panel from Paisley 16 from the later stage of its working life when it was Glasgow 1016. You can see from the state of it how large a task is ahead in restoring it to as-new condition!

Blackpool Illuminated Hovertram of 1963

The Blackpool Hovertram returned to us in September 2016 after almost a decade away and having spent periods of time in both Beith, Scotland, and Sunderland. Latterly in the ownership of the North Eastern Electrical Traction Trust (NEETT), the tram initially came back to us on a long term loan.

However, NEETT have now presented us with a unique opportunity to actually purchase the Hovertram outright, which will allow it to remain as part of the Blackpool collection, in perpetuity. We feel that this is an opportunity that we should not miss, as it will reunite the entire 1960's illuminated collection under one umbrella and in their original home at Rigby Road.

NEETT have very generously agreed to accept a figure of around half of the £7000 that they have themselves invested in the tram in terms of purchase, moving and storage. We have therefore raised £3,500 to allow the famous illuminated Hovertram to stay in Blackpool, where it belongs!

Again, many thanks to you all for your donations. No matter how big or small they are very much appreciated, and will help us to secure the future of the Hovertram here in Blackpool. Donors of £500 or more will be invited to come and inspect the tram themselves, and to hear first hand about our plans for its future return to use.

Make a Donation

Although these two particular appeals are now funded, if you would like to make a donation it would be so very welcome, and would go to other appeals and the ongoing work to maintain and preserve our unique transport heritage.

Alternatively, we would very much appreciate monthly standing orders. This form of regular contribution allows us to forward plan our projects, and will help us to build on our achievements so far and deliver the world class collection of Heritage trams that we all desire to see.

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Special Offers, Promotions & News

New: Royal Wedding Afternoon Tea and Tram Tour

Saturday 12 May from 1pm

Join Blackpool Heritage Trams for an Afternoon Tea Tour in honour of the Royal Wedding. What could be better than that on a summer's afternoon!

Depart from North Pier heritage stop at 1pm for a coastal tour to Fleetwood, enjoying a glass of Prosecco (or a non-alcoholic version) during the journey. On arrival in Fleetwood afternoon tea will be served on-board, including a delicious selection of savoury treats, tea bread and cakes, not forgetting tea and coffee!

Just £20 - Tickets must be purchased in advance fromheritage.trams@blackpooltransport.com or ring Emma Tingle on 01253 209521

We would like to thank the National Tramway Museum for allowing us to use Box Car 40 for this amazing photo shoot!
The amazing setup will be at our North Pier tram stop till around 5pm today so get yourselves down to have a look.

Don’t worry guys, thanks to the Hulks heroics stopping a runaway tram everything is running as normal today!
See Hulk and many others at Madame Tussauds Blackpool new Marvel display soon!

A winter refresh for Box 40
A further tram to have received attention during the winter period is Box 40. Last overhauled in 2014, 40 has been treated to some remedial work to arrest deterioration and to preserve a smart appearance for this popular tram. Box 40 has benefited from a repainted floor throughout, undertaken by volunteers from the Blackpool Civic Trust, whilst the Preston McGuire bogies have been steam cleaned and repainted by our own dedicated staff. All brass work has received a good polish thanks to Fleet Presentation Coordinator Bradley Jones, and his team, and new historical tramcar information sheets are now installed. These provide a brief history of the tram and acknowledge the co-operation and great relationship we enjoy with the Tramway Museum Society, owner of Box 40, whose generosity allows the tram to remain with us in Blackpool.
Box 40 now looks very spruce once more, and is all set for another season of use carrying its happy passengers on Heritage Tours of the Blackpool Tramway!

In honour of the Royal Wedding, why not join us for afternoon tea aboard a Heritage Tram on Saturday 12th May? Enjoy a delicious selection of savoury treats, cakes and tea or coffee (as well as a glass of Prosecco if you wish!), plus a coastal tour to Fleetwood, all for the great price of £20 per person. See poster for full details including how to book.

In honour of the Royal Wedding, why not join us for afternoon tea aboard a Heritage Tram on Saturday 12th May? Enjoy a delicious selection of savoury treats, cakes and tea or coffee (as well as a glass of Prosecco if you wish!), plus a coastal tour to Fleetwood, all for the great price of £20 per person. See poster for full details including how to book.

Good morning!
Our Heritage Tour trams for this weekend are Brush car 630 and Balloon 723 today (Saturday), and 630 with Balloon 717 tomorrow (Sunday). Why not come and enjoy a tram ride with us this weekend from only £3.50 adult and £2 child. You don't need to worry about the cold - we've got the heaters on!